The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1887-06-24
THE FARMERS.
steele County Alliance F0rmed-An
Address by Mr. LOucks.

steele County Alliance Formed-An
Address by Ar. Loucks.
According to announcement iu last weeks
PIONEER, a goodly number of farmers assem-
blcd at the Hope House "Wednesday afternoon
to meet Mr.. H. L. Loucks, president Of the
Dakota Farmers alliance.
Judge R. W. Berry was called to the chair
aud Mr.. W. Z. Boise appointed secretary.
Mr.. Loucks was then introduced and ad-
dressed those present. He said his object was
not to mako speech, but to meet with aud
explain to farmers throughout the territory the
objects and aims Of thr alliance. There was
pressing need for organization on the part of
farmers for mutual protection. Every branch
of industry had seen the necessity of organza.
tion for self-protection except the farmers. For
the last three years farmers had not been able
to make both ends meet; there must he some-
thing wrong in this. He believed that the only
remedy for this was for farmers to combine
and help each other. Many farmers think they
cannot afford to leave the plow to learn. The
objects of the alliance wera misunderstood by
business men; there should be no autagonism
between farmers and business men, for their
interest were mutual; when the farmer did not
prosper, tho business men could not prosper
willing to meet the farmers on fair grounds
that farmers should 60 outside. Mr.. I.eucks
said that already the alliance had been tho
means of effecting great saving to farmers
and cited an instance where contract had
been made for binders at $l05, but through
the pressure Of other machine companies the
company that made tho contract was COM
PEELED to break it. Thus twenty machine men
could down 10000 farmers, because they were
thoroughly organized. He alluded 10 the re-
duction in the price Of twino which had been
effected. In South Dakota 4 saving Of 81 to
$l.5O in the price of coal had been brought
about. He urged the building of farmers
warehouses for shipping grain, and where that
could not be done to unite and ship direct. Tho
great trouble with farmers was that they did
not trust each other. Go to the lowest sums
of New York, resorted to by thieves, robbers
and even murierers and you find that they
sustained and trusted each other, and if farm
ers wculi come together and get acquainted it
would beget confidence in each other. Take
the politicians, and though they might be fully
aware that all were not strictly honest, they
| would trust each other In order to achieve a
success. Herelated that when he went to Bis
| marck last winter he found thirteen members
Of the alliance in the house; these mon Ind
| never met together and were not acquainted
with each other, and there was no concert Of
action. Before the close of the session those
members had become thoroughly acquainted
and acted az unit on all questions affecting
the interests of farmers, and he was glad Il
say that none worked more zealously than did
i the members from this district. Mr.. I.ouck,
tl:als estarAa -tstc n, sas work
ings Of the insurance department OF tho alIi
| ance.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Loucks' remark
it was agreed to form county alliance, ant
Messrs. R. A. Pope, Laor King and W. j. Skin
ner wero appointed committee to sugges
names for officers.
The committee, after short conference, ~
ported as follows: Tor president, c. H. New.
ton; vice president, j. W. Gray; secretary. W.
E. Boise; treasurer, R. w. Berry.
A vote was taken on the adoption of the re-
port of the committee, and it was unanimously
agreed to.
Mr.. Newton, on taking the chair returned
thanks for the honor and said that 1t was al
ways his aim to do his duty in whatever posi-
tiou placed, and he should try to do 1t in tn,
position to which he had been called to til,
best of his ability.
Mr.. W. j. Skinner was chosen as adjuster O
losses by hail.
The Farmers Alliance Hail association wal
recommended to the farmers Of Steele county
committee, consisting Of R. A. Pope, w
T.. Boise aud John w. Laralnore, was ap
pointed to solicit sealed bids for twine ina
chinery, etc.
1t was agreed to hold a meeting Of the count
alliance OH Friday, July lst, at 2 .. IN, in Hope
to which all members aud their neighbors wer
Invited. The meeting then adjourned.